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Volkswagen’s most American car, the Jetta, may be suffering a typical American malady–middle-age spread. Like the active college athlete who graduates to a sedentary desk job, the Jetta enters its 25th year carrying extra mass–340 pounds’ worth. Of course, there’s no hiding that kind of weight gain; the once light, lithe sedan with the cramped back seat gains about an inch in width and height, 2.6 inches in wheelbase, and a stunning seven inches in overall length.

Naturally, adding that much avoirdupois necessitates a whole new wardrobe, so the Jetta set off to visit the fat-cat Phaeton’s tailor. The college-kid Jetta’s athletic-cut suit with its chiseled features and burly wheel arches has given way to a much more grownup look, with a formal C-pillar, classy circles-in-a-square taillights, and a massive chrome facade that befit a junior executive who’s going places. The look clearly doesn’t please everyone. From some angles, the cabin proportions look a bit too long and tall to comfortably fit the front and rear clips. Its broad, smooth flanks also appear vulnerable to door dings.

Not surprisingly, the enlarged exterior dimensions pay off handsomely inside, primarily in back where an additional 1.9 inches of legroom plus a smidge more head and shoulder room yield an extra three cubic feet of space. Moderate-size adults can now survive crosstown jaunts without requiring emergency chiropractic intervention upon arrival at their destination. Another three cubic feet of space have been added to the trunk, which, at 16 cubic feet, also appears large enough to accommodate a pair of moderate-size adults.

Interior furnishings, swathed in upscale materials, sheens, and textures, maintain the high standard set by all recent VWs. Depending on which of the three trim packages (simply numbered 1 through 3) is selected, the seats are upholstered in cloth, leatherette (your friends may never know it’s not real), or true cowhide; and the dash and door panels are sparingly trimmed in aluminum or convincing faux wood.

Developments in the engine room have kept pace with the added mass, if only just. Recall that the last Jetta’s entry-level powertrain was a prehistoric eight-valve 2.0-liter four wheezing out just 115 horsepower. Supplanting that is a new 2.5-liter inline-five that shares its bore center spacing, but little else, with the long-retired Audi five. Its cylinder head and piston crowns, however, closely resemble those of the 5.0-liter Lamborghini Gallardo V-10. There’s no direct parts interchangeability, but VW says there are similarities in the combustion dynamics and the way air moves through the cylinder.

Those hoping that half a Gallardo V-10 would produce 247 horsepower and 188 pound-feet are in for a letdown. This lightly stressed and economically configured five falls well short of those bogeys, at 150 horses and 170 pound-feet. That’s a reasonable increment up from the old base engine and enough to represent a 14-percent improvement in weight-to-power. With the close-ratio six-speed automatic (a five-speed manual will come online in May), acceleration to 60 mph is said to improve by 22 percent, dropping to 9.1 seconds. These days, that seems a bit lethargic, or maybe the five-cylinder’s moaning engine note just makes it seem like it takes a lot longer. The sound, which is reasonably well muffled, isn’t VW‘s fault–all naturally aspirated five-bangers are inherent moaners.

The news is all good in the chassis department, where the old twist-beam axle has given way to a sophisticated control-blade multilink setup. Ride isolation is greatly improved by the softly bushed trailing links while three lateral links in firm bushings bolster cornering ability. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, with ABS and ESP optional. An electric power-steering system borrowed from the Audi A3 is tuned for slightly lighter effort in the base Jetta. It’s programmed to resist crosswinds and road crowns automatically and to assist the return to center after negotiating a turn. The beauty of this system is that the driver never notices it working, because the motor isn’t connected to the steering shaft–it engages the opposite end of the rack so the wheel always has a natural heft. This is the global benchmark for electric power steering.

This clean-sheet body redesign presented an opportunity to improve the assembly process. Extensive use of laser welding and brazing bolsters the Jetta’s torsional rigidity by 60 percent and bending stiffness by 35, so the car feels rock-solid. We piloted a base Jetta 2.5 over 175 miles of coarse, unforgiving pavement and smooth mountain twisties in the Mexican state of Veracruz and were struck by the supple ride quality. Rather soft rebound control allows the suspension to top out occasionally; but on snaky stretches, the car goes faithfully where it’s pointed and hangs on respectably, understeering predictably on its standard 195/65-15 tires. In less-intense driving situations, one notices rather high levels of wind and road noise–and an audio system with slightly below-average sound quality.

Bottom line: The new Jetta 2.5 may presage great Jettas to come, so the most enthusiastic of the “drivers wanted” should save their down-payment for a hotter version. In May, a 100-horsepower, 177-pound-foot turbodiesel becomes available with the five-speed stick or the fabulous six-speed DSG automated manual. Then. in late July or early August, the 200-horse 2.0-liter turbo direct-injection gasoline four-cylinder will arrive mated to a choice of manual or DSG six-speed. That engine will be offered in mild Jetta 2.0T form or in a new Volkswagen GLI model conceived along the lines of the GTI, hatch–hotted up with bigger rolling stock, stiffer suspension, grippier seats, etc.

In the meantime, the base Jetta 2.5 represents a step up in prestige and handling character relative to its similarly sized and priced Asian competition. Stick to the base of just under $18,000, and you’ll get a raging bargain. Option the Jetta to $20,000, though, and the more powerful and equally adroit-handling Mazda6 and Honda Accord LX present formidable competition.

The Jetta may have bulked up, but a rigorous exercise program should pay off late in the swimsuit season.

Horsepower

2006 Volkswagen Jetta News and Reviews

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